Railway-car truck



24, 1931- K. M. HAMILTON 1,793,694

RAILWAYCA'R TRUCK Filed March 7, 1929 1- s Sheets-Shept 1 'INVENTOR KM). /l--'- ATTORNEYS Feb. 24, 1931. K. M. HAMiLTON RAILWAY CAR TRUCK 7 Filed March 7; 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENTOR m. M

BY a

ATTORNEYS Feb. 24, 1931. K. M. HAMILTON RAILWAY CAR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Filed March 7, 1929 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 24, 1 931 NITE STATES PATENT o icE KARL m. HAMILTON, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assrelvoa'ro THE nlirrnnnonr com- PANY, or nnrrmvnonr, IowA, A CORPORATION or IowA f v RAILWAY-CAR TRUCK Application filed March 7,

, vide a bolster mounting of the roller bearing-type in which full engagement of the bolster with the bolster guides is provided.v

A further object is to provide a railway car truck in which the side frames are so constructed as to provide supports for a relatively large number of bolster supporting springs, all supported at the same level without weakening'the frame and in which the bolster has side bearing faces extending the full depth of the bolster and is supported on roller bearings interposed between its lower face and the supporting springs.

A further object is to provide a roller car truck in which the bolster is supported at its ends upon roller bearings interposed. between the supporting springs and bolster and extending substantially the full width of the bolster. A further objectis to provide a su port for the bolster in which a relatively large number of springs supported at the same level in the frame are employed and in which roller bearings substantially co-extensive with the group or cluster of springs are interposed between the springs and bolster. With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the railway car truck as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set .forth i'nthe appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one slcilledin the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference shouldwbe had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which:

' Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing the side frame,'bolster and spring plank assembled;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of'the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

1929. Serial No. 344,993.

' Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line indi- "cated at 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3. with the bolster, spring plank and springs omitted;

Fig.5 is a section taken on the: line indi-' cated at 55 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line indicated at 66 in Fig. 2; v

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line indi-- cated at 7-7 in Fig. 2; p n

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the spring plank; I Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modified construction; and 1 Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line indicated at 10 10 in Fig. 9.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the truck is provided with side frames each of which may bein the form of a one piece casting, each having a compression chord 1 and a tension chord 2, the tension chord having a central horizontal spring supportmg portion 3 and inclined end portions 4 which join the horizontal portion 3 to the ends of the compression chord 1.

.At each end of the horizontal portion 3, the tension chord is connected to the compression chord by an integral upright column 5, the columns 5 being spaced apart a suflicient distance to form'a bolster receiving opening between them. The ends of a suitablebolster 6 extend into the bolster'receiving opening between columns 5 and the bolster is provided at the ends thereof with lateral projections 7 which are adapted to bear against the outer ide faces of the columns 5 and limit the lateral movements of the bolster.

The bolster opening between the columns 5 has a wide portion 8 adjacent the bottom thereof through which the end of the bolster may be passed to bring the lugs 7 to the outer side of the side frame, the upper portions of y the columns 5 being oflset inwardly to provide flat bearing faces for opposite sides of the bolsterwhich is of equal width from the' top to bottom, having flat bearing faces on its opposite sides which extend the full depth of the bolster-.s that the bolster has full hearing engagement with the guide portions 9 of the columns.

The horizontal ortion 3 of the tension chord has a flatwe 11 extending across the topthereof and-projecting laterally beyond the o osite sides ofthe bod portion of the chord orming horizontal si e flanges 12 and roviding a relatively wide spring support 1mmediately beneath the end of the bolster.

of the horizontal The flanges 12 are reinforced by vertical webs chor tends to weaken the tension chord since the load imposed through the supporting springs tends to cause the tension member to assume the shape which would be assumed by a flexible tension member supported at the ends of the compression chord and subjected to a similar load. The weak point of the tension chord is therefore, at the juncture and inclined end portions 4 of the tension chord and in order to effectively strengthen these portions of the tensionchord, reinforcing webs 14 are provided which extend across 2 the lower corners of the bolster receiving opening. These webs merge into the flanges 12 at points spaced inwardly from the columns 5 and extend upwardly from the flanges 12 merging into the end portions 4 of the tension chord, outwardly of the'columns 5.

The webs 14 are formed with outer portions p which merge into the flanges 12 and form continuations thereof and with inner portions curved inwardly across the faces of the columns 5 toward the center thereof and forming rounded recesses 15 above the web 11 at the base of each of the columns. 1

A spring plank 16 connects the horizontal portions 3 of the opposite side frames and this s ring provi ed wit relatively deep side flanges 17.

Thebottom or web of the channel shapedspring plank is flat and is widened at each,

end to 1provide rounded lateral projections 18 whic are of a size and shape to substantially fit in the rounded recesses 15 at opposite sides of the bolster opening.

The side flanges of the spring plank are continuousfrom one end of the plank to the other, but atthe ends of the plank, the portions 19 of the flange extending along the edges of the rounded projections 18 and to the end of the spring plank are relatively low so that in assembling the truck, the springs may be easily inserted between the spring plank and bolster, so that'when the truck is in service, the removal and replacement of bolster-supporting spring group is facilitated.

portion with the columns lank is of channel form and The lateral projections 18 of the spring plank are'each of a size and shape to accommodate one of the bolster springs 20 so that the end springs of the group or cluster of springs may be positioned in close proximity to the. columns 5 and supported at the same level as the other springs of the group. The

cover the top of the group or cluster of springs and this plate is preferably provided with a guide. for vertical movement between the columns 5. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the

plate 21 has projections 22 at the ends thereof Y which fit in central guide channels 23 formed in the bearing portions 9 of the guide columns and extend upwardly from the widened por-,

tion v8 of the bolster opening a suflicient distance to accommodate the vertical movement of the bearing plate.

The bearing plate is shaped to conform substantially to the group or cluster of springs upon which it is-inou'nted and it is provided with a short marginal downwardly projecting flange 24 which serves to prevent displacement of the upper ends of the springs. On its upper face, thebearing plate is provided with longitudinal grooves 25-which extend'substantially' from one end ofthe plate to the other, the ends of these grooves being closed by short flanges 26. j The under face of the bolster immediately above thebearin plate is provided with transverse grooves 2 i which are positioned directly above the corresponding grooves 25 of the bearing plate.

As above explained, the bearing plate conforms substantially to the group cluster of springs upon which it is supported and since this spring. group is longest along the center line of theside frame directly between the guide columns, the center groove of the hearing plate is longer than the other grooves and receives a roller 28 which is of a length substantially equal tothe width of the bolster and in the grooves on opposite sides of the central groove, there are mounted additional rollers 29 which are somewhat shorter than the central roller 28. It will be noted that the supporting springs are grouped with a central row of springs directly between the guide columns 5 and with the end springs of the row closely adjacent the guide columns 5 and that additional springs are positioned over the flanges 12 on opposite sides of the and the upper ends of these springs project above the bottom portion of the inwardly offset guiding faces 9 of the columns, the outer edge portions of the spring lying beneath the projections 22 of the bearing plate. The pro- I I ections 22 of the bearing plate and the channels 23 of the guide columns are,'however, of sufficient width to accommodate the upper ends of these springs'so that the inwardly oil'- set portions of the guide columns do not interfere with the movements of the springs.

In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawing, there is shown a slightly modified construction in which a bearing plate of substantially rectangular form is provided. This bearing plate projects past opposite sides of the side frame and has projections 31 which overliethe edges of the flanges 10 of the guide columns at the inner and outer sides thereof. In order that the bearing plate may completely cover the end springs of the central row of the group or cluster, the plate is provided with rounded projections 32 which overlie the outer edge portions of the end springs and the lower portions of the inwardly offset guide faces of the columns are provided with rounded channels 33 which receive the upper ends of the springs and the projections 32 of the bearing plate. On its top face, the bearing plate 30 is provided with longitudinal rounded grooves 34 which are of equal length and extend substantially the full length of the plate, the ends of the grooves being closed by short flanges 35, the grooves 34 receive bearing rollers 36 which extend'substantially the full length of the grooves and provide roller bearings for the bolster, all of the rollers extending nearly the full lengths and if desired, two or four rollers may be used instead of three.

In both modifications above described, the

bolster has full bearing engagement through out its depth with the opposite flat bearing faces ofthe guide columns and in addition, the bolster is supported on roller bearings extending substantially the full width thereof.

Either single or double coil springs may be employed and spring plates 37 such as shown in Figs. 3 and 7 may be used if desired to permit the spring group to be inserted or removed as a unit.

' Since the bolster has no projections overlying the inner side faces of the guide columns,

the suspension brackets for brake beams may be mounted closely adjacent the bolster receiving opening and since'the central portion of the spring plank is relatively narrow, the lengthening o the spring support to accommodate a greater number of supporting springs does not necessitate the lengthening of the wheel base of the truck to accommodate the brake mechanism.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides very eflicient bolster supporting and guiding means and permits the use of an increased number of bolster supporting springs without weakening the side frames and without necessitating an increase in the length of the wheel base. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented forpurposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can bemade without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims. What I claim is:

1. In a railway car truck, a side frame hava bolster receiving opening and guide columns at opposite sides of the opening provided with bolster guide channels, said frame having a fiat horizontal spring supporting portion at the bottom of the opening extending from one column to the other and projecting laterally from opposite sides of the frame, and reinforcing webs extending upwardly from the spring supporting portion to the columns on opposite sides thereof, a bolster having side faces bearing on said columns, a group of bolster supporting springs interposed between said horizontal portion and the under side of the bolster, the end springs of said group being positioned be tween said reinforcing webs and extending into said guide channels, a roller seat guided for vertical movement between said columns and resting on the tops of said springs, and

roller bearings substantially coextensive withsaid spring group and interposed between said seat and bolster.

2. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a tension chord, a compression chord, and spaced vertical columns joining said chords and having opposed bearing faces provided with vertical guide grooves, said tension chord having a horizontal portion between the columns, a bolster having an end thereof slidable between the bearing faces of the columns, a bearing member having roller supports for the bolster and slidable between the bearing faces of the columns, and a group of supporting springs interposed between said fiat horizontal portion of the tension chordand the bearing member, end springs of said group being closely adjacent the columns and lying partially in said grooves.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, the upper portion of WlllCh has opposed vertical bearing faces and the lower portion of which below said bearing faces is wider than the upper por- 5 tion,;said bearing faces having vertical guide rooves and the bottom of said opening bemg flat and horizontal, reinforcing webs on opposite sides of the frame extending across the lower corners of the openings, a bolster slidable between the said bearing faces, a

roller "seat beneath the bolster slidable between said-faces, said bolster and seat being removable laterally through the wider lower portion of the opening, and a grou of springs interposed between the bottom 0? the opening and the roller seat, end springs ofsaid. group lying partially in the said grooves and between said webs.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. KARL M. HAMILTON. 

